LOS ANGELES – Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper is dreaming of an Olympic gold medal after confirmation on Monday that baseball will be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Harper, one of Major League Baseball’s biggest stars who is currently battling for a place in the World Series, said the return of the sport to the Olympic stage was “really cool”.
The Phillies first baseman – who turned 31 on Monday – said he had learnt about the news of the Olympic decision from his wife.
“My wife actually had a hair appointment this morning and she texted me ‘Happy Birthday’ with that. She said, ‘Hey, I guess one of your birthday wishes forever got (granted)’,” Harper said ahead of the Phillies’ National League Championship Series game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which the Phillies won 5-3.
Harper, a two-time National League Most Valuable Player, said he hoped his age would not prevent him from playing in 2028.
“I will be old at that point, so I don’t know if they’re going to want me to be on the team, but it’s always a dream,” Harper said.
“I think it’s everybody’s dream to be in the Olympics. Especially it coming here, being able to do that.
“I would hope that Major League Baseball... you talk about growing the game, and that’s the way you grow it at the highest peak.
“You let guys that are playing in the league take that break, just like in the National Hockey League, and see what happens.
“I mean, I think it would be really cool. I think it would be a lot of fun.
“I don’t know if they’ll ever go for it, but I would love to put USA on my chest and represent it at the highest level.”
Baseball was readmitted at an International Olympic Committee meeting in Mumbai earlier on Monday, joining softball, cricket, flag football, squash and lacrosse as inclusions for the 2028 Games.
Baseball has a long history as an Olympic sport, first played unofficially at the 1904 St Louis Games, before making its bow as a demonstration sport at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics.
It returned as an official Olympic sport in Barcelona in 1992 before being dropped after the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
It was put back on the schedule at the Tokyo Olympics, where Japan beat the United States in the final, but will not be part of the 2024 Paris Games.
Meanwhile, Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng, the first woman to be hired as boss of a men’s professional sports team in North America, has stepped down from the post, the club confirmed on Monday.
Ng, who was hired in November 2020 and helped the Marlins return to the post-season in 2023, is reportedly leaving after a clash with the team ownership.
US media reports said Ng had declined to take up an option to return in 2024 after objecting to a proposal to appoint someone above her as head of baseball operations. AFP, REUTERS
